Identity Before Purpose
In an age where so much of one’s identity is in question; it is important that as a Disciple of Christ we know who we are, and for what purpose God has created us. To know and understand this, it would be in our best interest to go back to the One who created and gave us reason for being. As we read in Genesis 1:1, “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” that we see the beginning of creation. If we believe this to be true, we have the establishment of an absolute truth, that God is the creator. We read Furthermore, in Genesis 1:26 that God said, “Let us make man in our image and after our likeness.” Which further establishes the absolute truth that God is the creator. It is not by the evolution of creation that we find man, but by the wisdom of One Supreme Being, namely God, that we are created.
God has always established identity before He has given purpose. The first thing we see God do in the creation of man is give him identity, a name, and then gives him purpose. It is after He has given Adam identity that God places him in the garden and purposed him to keep it. Up until God names him, Adam has no idea who he is, nor his purpose.
Identity before purpose.
We see this same thing, with Gideon in Judges 6. We read that the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree and speaks to Gideon and says to him “God is with you mighty man of Valor.” He says this before he begins to share with Gideon what the purpose of his visit was. Up until this moment Gideon only saw himself as part of the smallest of all the clans of Manasseh, and the least of his father’s children. Upon establishing how God identified him, as a mighty man of valor it was then that the Angel than begin to share with him the reason for his visit. That he, Gideon would save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.
Identity before purpose.
In Luke 3:22 we read that as Jesus comes out of the water after being baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit descended on him like that of a Dove, and a voice comes out of heaven saying, “You are My beloved Son, in you I am well pleased.” It was up until this point, Jesus’ identity has been the son of the carpenter, Joseph’s son. It is in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus surrenders to the purpose for which He was created. To take away the sins of the world. 1 John3:8 - He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Identity before purpose.
It is in these different declarations that each of these individuals, Adam, Gideon, and Jesus realized they were more than their situations, more than what people thought, more than what they thought of themselves. Note, these different declarations about all three men came from the Very One who created each of them, God.
You need to know that you are more than just a bad moment, a bad choice, an immoral act, a bad habit, or a bad thought. Yes, those moments, those choices, those acts, those unhealthy habits and even those bad thoughts are factual, however they are not the truth of who you are. The truth of who you are is defined by who God declares you to be. He has identified and purposed you as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
Identity before purpose.
Just something I was thinking about….
Thanks,
Pastor Stevie B.
